Prince Harry and Meghan Markle given ‘VVIP status’ by cops ahead of trip to Netherlands this weekend
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have been given "VVIP status" by Dutch cops ahead of their trips to the Netherlands this weekend.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will touchdown for the Invictus Games and be guarded by a "high-level multi-agency protection programme", according to reports.
Their plea for their private security team to be armed as they head to Holland was earlier snubbed by Dutch authorities.
But their bodyguards are said to have liaised with officials to work together during the Sussexes first trip to Europe since Megxit.
Officials are said to have given the pair "high level assurances their protection is a priority".
It comes amid Harry's ongoing legal battle with the British Government after he was stripped of his taxpayer-funded Met Police armed guards when he quit royal duty.
The couple have been assured there is "no credible threat" to their safety and they will be impeccably looked after by Dutch security.
reported that a "high level multi-agency protection programme" is in place for the couple for the duration of their trip.
It includes direct links to all law enforcement and emergency services, as well as "detailed extraction processes" in the event of a "personal or larger scale terror attack".
The Dutch national police’s DKDB Royal and Diplomatic Security Service are reportedly heading up the operation.
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Harry and Meghan, 40, are also said to have taken part in a "hostile environment" training course ran by their security team.
A source told the Mirror: "Harry and Meghan have received absolute top assurances that there is no credible threat to their safety.
"This is the view of the Dutch authorities and other agencies across the continent.
"In any case, as they are attending a high profile event in the Netherlands, both the Duke and Duchess have been classed as VVIPs for the duration of their stay and overall responsibility for their safety at all times while in the Netherlands will be with the Dutch authorities."
The Duchess is rumoured to only be staying for a "few days" while Harry will see out the duration of the international sporting event.
They will both be in The Hague for the opening ceremony of Harry's games for wounded soldiers on Saturday.
SNUBBING THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY
And the Sussexes are set to be followed by a Netflix documentary crew throughout.
Despite being a short jaunt away from London, Harry is set to swerve a visit to the Queen on her 96th birthday.
The 37-year-old said he "does not feel safe" in Britain without armed security and says the decision to remove them is "unlawful and "unfair".
He and wife Meghan will head to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games, which kicks off on April 16.
But as the tournament wraps up on April 22, they will have missed Her Majesty's birthday on April 21.
The pair's itinerary has further ruffled feathers after they did not attend Prince Philip's memorial.
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Harry's absence was blamed on the ongoing security dispute, but he was branded a hypocrite for planning a trip to the nearby Netherlands.
Harry and Meghan are believed to have armed protection in the US but are not allowed to use them when they come to Britain.